Second Life: A Virtual Learning Center for the Study of Sharks

Authors

  • Tryfonas Papadamou University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education
  • Costas Gavrilakis University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education
  • Costas Tsolakidis University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education
  • Georgia Liarakou University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v6i2.1580

Keywords:

Education for sustainable development, Second Life, virtual museum

Abstract


In this work the educational capabilities of the virtual world Second Life are researched and tested. A virtual world is constructed to support education for sustainable development. The life and characteristics of the shark is studied as this fish has received a lot of negative publicity and is in the danger of extinction. A virtual museum was developed for this purpose. The research question is focused on whether it can be used effectively in a modern classroom and how difficult is for an educator to develop such an application. To achieve that, a number of learning activities were developed, a number of on line questionnaires were issued and a series of virtual meetings were held. Teachers used the application and answered the questionnaires. The entire effort was attempted through Internet exclusively.

Author Biographies

Tryfonas Papadamou, University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education

Tryfonas Papadamou is a qualified primary school teacher. After completing his undergraduate degree as a primary school teacher in the University of the Aegean, he received the M.Sc. Educational Sciences ­ Education with the use of ICT. His research interests combine both technological and environmental aspects. In specific his main interests include the study of 3D environments in education, internet technologies and Education for Sustainable Development, as well.

Costas Gavrilakis, University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education

Costas Gavrilakis, Ph.D., is a researcher at the University of the Aegean. He studied Environmental Studies before receiving M.Sc. in Environmental Policy and Management and Ph.D. in Environmental Education. His research interests involve EE program planning as well as information and communication technologies in EE. Together with Georgia Liarakou, he is responsible for the content of the Greek portal of EE material www.env-edu.gr.

Costas Tsolakidis, University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education

Costas Tsolakidis is an assistant professor at the Department of Primary Education of the University of the Aegean in Greece. He teaches information technology related subjects. His academic interests include distance learning, using information technology as an instrument for development in rural areas, multigrade teaching, educational applications for virtual reality. He was involved in a number of EU and Greek funded projects.

Georgia Liarakou, University of the Aegean, Pedagogical Department of Primary Education

Georgia Liarakou is an assistant professor at the Department of Primary Education of the University of the Aegean in Greece. Her academic subject involves theory and practice of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development. Her research has focused on the investigation of teachers, students and pupilsâ?? perceptions of several concepts and processes regarding Environmental Education. Currently, she is working on the research topic of Education for Sustainable Development.

Downloads

Published

2011-05-26

How to Cite

Papadamou, T., Gavrilakis, C., Tsolakidis, C., & Liarakou, G. (2011). Second Life: A Virtual Learning Center for the Study of Sharks. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 6(2), pp. 19–25. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v6i2.1580

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2011)

Section

Papers